So, I've heard it said in many places - from my tutors, books on writing, interviews with authors, etc, that you should write something like 1000 words every day in order to build up your writing skills. Okay, sounds good right? As long as you have the time and inspiration to do so, both of which I'm usually lacking. Or at least I tell myself that is so.
Okay, so, time for a change, I thought. Let's do something inspirational!
This post (after nearly two years of inactivity - sorry, anybody who actually sees these posts) is therefore the start of (hopefully) a daily writing challenge. So, for, let's say, the next three weeks, everyday I will be writing a short snippet of writing to post onto this blog.
This activity was inspired by my purchasing something called 'The Writer's Toolbox' by one Jamie Cat Callan. In it are various writing prompts and stuff designed to inspire the aspiring writer. These include First Sentences, Non Sequiturs and Last Straws; Some fancy 'Protagonist' spinny wheel thingies; Things called 'Sixth Sense' cards; a helpful book and last but not least - a very nice hourglass that times for I-don't-actually-know how long.
(While writing this blog post I'm listening to the soundtrack from one of my favourite games - Dragon Age: Inquisition.)
So, I'm gonna start simply with the first activity - the first sentence stick. The book tells me to write for 'three to six minutes' but I'm just gonna write for however long the hourglass actually times for.
Okay, so the stick I chose was - 'I loved the way she said "balloon." She said it as if she were blowing bubbles. - so here I go.
I loved the way she said 'balloon', she said it as if she were blowing bubbles. I mean, she probably did blow bubbles. That was her job, working in the toy store, demonstrating all of the toys to the children, enticing them to enforce that skill all diminutive humans possess to the delight of companies and chagrin of parents everywhere - pester power.
That was how I met her, in the toy store with my son. He was adamant that he wanted the new Doctor Who Lego set, which was obviously in no part due to my own inspiration or subtle hints to him. So there we were, when he spotted this woman with a bag of brightly coloured balloons. He immediately rushed over and I had no choice but to follow him. Around her were four children, also accompanied by their parents. My son sat down with them as she began her demonstration.
'Balloons,' she said, in that way that sounded oh so pleasant on my ears. 'They're so much fun! Watch!'
And with that she quickly and skilfully blew up a long, green balloon. She deftly tied a knot in the end and held it aloft above her head.
'That's boring!' one kid yelled.
'Hmmm...' she went, humouring him. 'You're right!'
In five seconds flat she had transformed the balloon into a sword. She gestured for the kid to come over. He did so. She handed him the sword-balloon and he ran off, a huge smile on his face.
'Now,' she continued. 'What shall I make next?'
To my surprise it was my own son who piped up - 'A Dalek! Make a Dalek!'
I was about to speak up to say it would be too complicated when she spoke first.
'No problem, kid! And might I say, awesome request.'
What followed defied belief. To this day, I still don't know how she did it, but no more than three minutes later, there she stood, rubber, tubular Dalek in hand. Without thinking, I started clapping, causing the other parents to turn and stare at me. My son was too busy staring at the swiftly created Dalek. The woman looked up, met my gaze and gave me the most charming smile I'd ever witnessed. I responded in kind with my own lopsided, goofy grin.
That was how I met my second wife.
Right, so that ran slightly over six minutes, clocking in at nearer ten. It's pretty clever how one sentence can inspire so much. Somebody else, anybody else, would have written something completely different. My own tastes and experiences formed what you just read above, which is really what writing is all about - creativity, but more importantly, creativity on a personal scale. Obviously, none of the above is true, just the general fart that came out of my mind when prompted by the, er, writing prompt.
I'm gonna shut up with all the cliche writing bs now and sign off. Hope any of you who read this enjoyed it. Tune in tomorrow for the next (very) short story.
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